Due to the risks posed by COVID-19, PV Sindhu, the world number 6 from India, decided to use the 'Namaste' gesture instead of shaking hands during the Super 1000 series in England (March 11–15, 2020). In a recent interview, she talked about the All England Open at the Birmingham Arena, a competition with a $100,000 purse. This comes shortly after she received the BBC Sports 2019 Sportswoman of the Year award on March 8, 2020.
As a safety measure against COVID-19, PV Sindhu, a standout athlete from the Gopichand Badminton Academy, opted to greet her opponents, fans, and tournament officials with a traditional Indian Namaste. Reflecting on her past performances at the All England tournament, Sindhu had a strong run in 2018, making it to the final four before losing to Akane Yamaguchi of Japan. However, 2019 was less successful, as she was eliminated early despite attempting to prioritize the event by skipping the German Open.
While several Indian athletes withdrew from the 2020 BWF World Tour due to pandemic concerns, PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, and Kidambi Srikanth still traveled for the All England Championship, with coach Pullela Gopichand scheduled to join them shortly. Although her top 10 ranking and strong Olympic qualification status could have allowed her to skip the event, Sindhu viewed this tournament as a key long-term objective. She also noted a boost in her confidence and technique since starting work with her new coach, Park Tae Sung, who replaced her previous mentor from the Gopichand academy.
When questioned about the pandemic, Sindhu remarked that since the virus had already reached India, it was up to the governments of India and England to decide if the threat warranted a cancellation; otherwise, personal safety is an individual responsibility. She emphasized that wearing masks, using hand sanitizer, and avoiding large crowds are effective ways to stay safe. In the opening round of the 2020 All England Championship, Sindhu is set to compete against Beiwan Zhang from the United States.